392 SYLVICULTURAL NOTES ON TIMBER TREES 



LARCH. 



Larix Europea = The European Larch. 

 Larix leptolepis = The Japanese Larch. 

 Larix occidentalis = The Western Larch. 

 Larix Kurilensis = The Kurile Larch. 

 Larix Siberica = The Siberian Larch. 



None of these trees are native to this country. 



EUROPEAN LARCH. 



This is a native to the mountains of Central Europe, 

 the Bavarian Alps, and the Tyrol. 



As to Seed. It ripens seed in this country, but home- 

 grown seed should never be used. 



One pound of seed contains about 70,000 seeds, and 

 the germinative capacity of the seed is about 35 per 

 cent. 



The timber is hard, tough, and durable, but it is liable to 

 twist and warp, and, therefore, should not be used in house 

 construction. But it is a most valuable timber, and makes 

 the best railway sleepers, and is largely used for general 

 estate purposes. It makes excellent fencing material, and the 

 wood, even when quite young, is hard and durable ; hence, 

 thinnings from young Larch plantations are nearly always 

 saleable. 



The wood splits fairly well. 



Soil and Situation. For its successful growth Larch is 

 very particular ; a deep, well-drained loam with a fair amount 

 of moisture, is quite suitable to it. Dry, sandy, or gravelly 

 soils are quite unsuited to it ; so, also, are thin soils resting 

 on chalk, or stiff clay soils, or any badly-drained soil. On 

 stiff clay soils it often grows well, but the trees, even if they 

 look healthy, are usually hollow or " pumped." 



On dry soils the timber is always brittle, and very often 

 decayed, such timber being termed " foxy " in the incipient 



